Using electronic medical record system to improve compliance with national guidelines for comprehensive distress screening in cancer patients.

309Background: Psychosocial distress screening (DS) and management is associated with improved quality of life and outcomes in cancer patients and is required for accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Comprehensive distress screening (CDS) consists of routine distress screening, evaluation, referral to appropriate psychosocial services, and follow-up to ensure adequate care. Electronic medical record (EMR) systems can be leveraged to facilitate and document CDS as part of clinical care and to evaluate the CDS process as a quality standard. The aim of this study is to develop and implement an EMR-based tool to document and evaluate the CDS process as part of routine oncology care. Methods: An EMR-based tool with structured data fields is developed for social workers to document risk factors for distress, assessment, management plan including psychosocial service referrals, and time spent delivering care following DS using the NCCN distress thermometer (DT). Evaluation of C...